Adjustable gas-engine-muffler attachment.



D. S. COOK (Q J. P. FINK.

ADJUSTABLE GAS ENGiNE MUFFLER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED UNE 3. 1918.

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DON S. COOK AND JOSEPH P. FINK, OF NORTH EATON, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE GAS-ENGINE-MUFFLER ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 10, 19153,

Application filed June 3, 1918. Serial 170237360.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DON S. C001; and Jo- SEPH P. FINK, citizens f the United States, residing at North Eaton, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Gas Engine Muffler Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in an adjustable attachment for gas engine mufiiers, and is herein explained in c'onnec-' tion with a. type of muffler especially designed for use upon automobiles, The object of our invention is to eifect a saving of fuel, avoid the collection of carbon or soot in the mufller, permit the easy starting or the engine, and the attainment of other advantages inherent in the use of apparatus within the scope of our said invention.

We have applied to the muffler, which may be of any approved type, an appliance which is adapted to permit the operation of the mufiler in its usual manner, or through the adjustment of said appliance, permit the exhaust from the gas engine to pass more directly through the muffler and thereby avoid a tendency to deposit carbon Within the walls of the muflier, and further avoid material back pressure therein.

.Our invention may be more readily ex plained in connection with the accompany ing drawings, wherein Figure l is a view partially diagrammatic and in section, illustrating a mufiier equipped with our attachment and the use thereof.

Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of our attachment, with the vanes or valve mechanism closed,

And Figs. 3 and 5 are corresponding views showing the vanes in their fully open position. U

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, the same character ofreference has been applied to indicate similar parts of the mechanism shown.

Referring first to Fig. l. a muffler is somewhat digrammatically shown in connection with our appliance and operating means therefor, wherein the exhaust pipe at from of perforations. A bell-crank. lever f is provided for the actuation of said attachment,

through the medium of a controlling lever g and the connecting link h, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The mechanism for operating the vanes in said attachment is best shown in the re maining figures of the drawings. The extension f of the bell-crank lever is pivoted diametrically of the cylindrical shell 2'. The central vane y is secured to said extension by means of nuts and screws 5. 'The upper and lower vanes I: and Z, completing the circular valve mechanism or obstruction within said shell, respectively are mounted upon the short shafts k and Z and these are connected for.actuation to the median vane j by means of the U-shaped links is and Z" respectively .pivoted thereto as shown. These links afford onemueans for connecting said vanes so that they may be concurrently actuated to close or obstruct the mufiler chamber, or practically clear said chamber of obstruction, or adjust such obstructionin any desired degree; all depending'upon the angular positions of these vanes. These sectional vanes or' shutter members are subjected to intense heat which would warp out of shape those of larger dimensions, unless formed of very heavy material. Also, said members are stifi ened by being-mounted on separate supporting shafts.

When our attachment hasv been applied to a muffier, it will be found practicable to operate the gas engine quite commonly,

with the vanes in their fullv open position. With said vanes partially closed, the action of the mufiler naturally is increased, although with little accompanying increase in the back pressure of the exhaust line from the engine... An automobile may .be operated satisfactorily under both conditions; the

escape of the exhaust through the openings in the muffler chamber as indicated by the arrows, varying with the adjustment of the vanes, yet securing a quiet operatlon of the engine. This appears to result from a whirling action set up in the spent gases,

. which find exit partly through the perforabon in the mufiler.

tions, even with the vanes in their Wide open position, thus smothering the exhaust. Of course, the maximum effect of'the mufiler is obtained by completely closing the vanes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, but intermediate adjustments of said "anes or valve mechanism, to suit the running conditions and desires'of the driver, ordinarily are preferable and permissible.

The use of our attachment with any Slut: able type of mufiier, will demonstrate that more of less saving of gasolene is thereby effected in operating the engine,.wh1lesa1d engine obviously may be started more read tionary gas engine.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of our invention, and one of its practical applications, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the fol lowing 1. In apparatus of the class descrlbed, the combination with a gas engine muffler, of an attachment therefor comprising three coacting shutter members together forming a complete valve mechanism for the -mufiler chamber adapted entirely to close the same, three independent shafts respectively mount ing and reinforcing the sectional shutter members, and means for concurrently. operating said valve members, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a mufiier comprising terminally vented connecting outer and inner chambers, of an adjustable closure mechanism mounted in the latter, comprising a cylindrical shell, three parallel shafts positioned therein substantially in a common cured thereto and together adapted to be actuated into substantially the plane of said shafts completely to obstruct the inner chamber; one of said shafts being extended exteriorly of the device, means removably connecting it to the corresponding sectional vane, and additional means for concurrently operating the vanes thereby, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a gas engine muffler, comsaid shutters,

prising an outer casing and an innermufi'ler chamber having perforated walls adjacent to its ends, and an insertible and removable attachment positioned within said mufiier chamber comprising a containing casing and valve mechanism adapted to obstruct said chamber, with means for' actuating said valve mechanism from a distance, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination-with a gas engine mufller, comprising outer'and inner communicating muffler chambers; the latter being perforated adjacent to its ends, of anadjustable closure therefor comprising a; plurality of sectional I shutters or vanes together adapted to form a complete obstruction for the intermediate portion of the inner chamber, independent shafts respectively mounting said shutters intermediately thereof for staying them against warping, and connecting means for securing their common actuation substan:

tially into a given plane or alternatively into parallel relation, for closing or opening said intermediate portion of the inner chamber; said adjustable closure being removably mounted as a unit within themufiler, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus of the class described, an

sage therethrough, but adapted substantially to close the same upon variable adjustment thereof; said shutters together forming a complete closure when adjusted for-deflecting the exhaust, and means for actuating the substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus of the described type, the combination with a mufiier having an inner chamber and exterior passages communicating therewith, of an insertible and removplane, three sectional vanes respect vely seable attachment positioned intermediately of said inner chamber and the communicating passages, comprising sectional, stiffened or stayed adjustable members adapted substantially to close said chamber but permitting free passage therethrough when desired, and means for actuating said members into any desired positions of adjustment from the outside of said muflier, substantially as set forth.

8. In an adjustable attachment for gas engine mufllers, the combination with a supporting shell, of a plurality of sectional shutters together forming a complete 0bstruction when properly adjusted Within the shell, independent shafts for each shutter,

- interior connecting means, and an actuating shaft removably' connected for operating said shutters, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We do now afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

DON S. COOK. JOSEPH P. FINK.

Witnesses:

G. FORREST, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

